Half of global agricultural soil phosphorus fertility derived from anthropogenic sources

The use of mineral phosphorus (P) fertilizers, often referred to as anthropogenic phosphorus, has dramatically altered the global cycle and increased soil fertility crop yields. Quantifying agriculture’s reliance on requires estimates its contribution agricultural fertility. Here we present a model dynamics simulating availability in soils for individual countries from 1950 2017. Distinguishing between natural pools accounting farming practices, trade crop–livestock recycling, estimate that available was 47 ± 8% Country-level signatures vary according cumulative fertilizer inherited pre-1950, with negligible influence feed food products. Despite different historical trajectories, find Western Europe, North America Asia are similarly reliant nearly 60% total anthropic origin Conversely, inputs Africa remained low over study period, contributing only around 30% phosphorus. unequal production systems resources highlights need fairer management world’s remaining phosphate rock resources. About half current globally is derived sources, country-scale simulations